Following which event did Timothy McVeigh become a well-known figure in American history?

Timothy McVeigh became a well-known figure in American history following the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building. This tragic event occurred on April 19, 1995, and was carried out by McVeigh as a response to what he perceived as government overreach. The bombing resulted in the deaths of 168 people, including many children, and wounded hundreds more, making it one of the deadliest acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

The notoriety McVeigh gained stemmed from both the scale of the attack and the subsequent investigation and trial, which brought national attention to issues surrounding domestic terrorism, anti-government sentiments, and the motivations behind such violent acts. As a consequence of this event, McVeigh was convicted and ultimately executed in 2001, further cementing his place in American history as a figure associated with extreme anti-government ideology.

In contrast, the other choices pertain to significant events in U.S. history, but they do not relate directly to McVeigh's actions or the circumstances that led to his infamy. For example, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security was a response to the September 11 attacks, which occurred years later, and Operation Desert Storm was a military campaign